The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched in 1991 by WHO and UNICEF to implement practices that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding globally. The aims of BFHI are to follow the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and end free distribution of breast milk substitutes in healthcare facilities. The Ten Steps include having a written breastfeeding policy, training staff, informing pregnant women about benefits of breastfeeding, helping mothers initiate breastfeeding within 30 minutes of birth, and fostering breastfeeding support groups.

1. BABY-FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE
NAVJEET KAUR
NURSING TUTOR
AIIMS, RISHIKESH

2. INTRODUCTION
• BFHI is a world wide programme of
WHO & UNICEF
• Launched in 1991 following the
adoption of the Innocenti
Declaration in 1990
• Global effort to implement
practices that protect, promote and
support breastfeeding to reduce
infant mortality worldwide.

3. The Aims of the
Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
• To implement the Ten Steps to Successful
Breastfeeding
• To end the distribution of free and low-cost
supplies of breast milk substitutes to health
facilities.

5. Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
1) Have a written
breastfeeding policy that
is routinely
communicated to all
health-care staff.
2) Train all health-care staff
in the skills necessary to
implement this policy.

6. Ten Steps Cont….
3) Inform all pregnant women
about the benefits and
management of
breastfeeding.
4) Help mothers initiate
breastfeeding within a
half- hour of birth.

7. Ten Steps Cont….
5) Show mothers how to
breastfeed and how to
maintain lactation even
if they are separated
from their infants.
6) Give newborn infants no
food or drink other than
breast milk unless
medically indicated

8. Ten Steps Cont….
7) Practice rooming-in:
allow mothers and
infants to stay
together, 24 hours a
day.
8) Encourage
breastfeeding on
demand.

9. Ten Steps Cont….
9) Give no artificial nipples
or pacifiers to
breastfeeding infants.
10) Foster the establishment
of breastfeeding support
groups and refer mothers
to them on discharge
from the hospital.

10. CONCLUSION
• Recognize breastfeeding as a “unique
process” that provides ideal nutrition for
infants and is associated with a reduced risk
of many diseases in both infants and mothers.